What Does Mark 15:34 Mean?
Mark 15:34 describes the moment when Jesus, hanging on the cross, cries out, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' This cry reveals the depth of his suffering - not just physical pain, but spiritual separation as he bore the weight of humanity's sin. Though it sounds like despair, it's actually faith in the midst of darkness, quoting Psalm 22 to show that even in abandonment, God is still God.
Mark 15:34
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Key Facts
Book
Author
Mark
Genre
Gospel
Date
circa 65-70 AD
Key Takeaways
- Jesus felt forsaken so we never would be.
- Honest lament is an act of faith.
- His cry opened the way to God.
The Darkness and Derision Before the Cry
Right before crying out, Jesus endured hours on the cross under supernatural darkness and relentless mockery.
The sky had gone dark at noon and stayed that way until 3 p.m., the very hour Jesus cried out - marking a solemn, eerie backdrop to his suffering. People passing by, along with religious leaders, kept taunting him, saying things like, "Save yourself and come down from the cross!" as if his pain proved he couldn’t help others.
Jesus’ cry, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" wasn’t a loss of faith, but a raw expression of deep spiritual agony - feeling separated from God as he took on the full weight of human sin.
The Cry That Quotes Psalm 22: A Window into Jesus' Suffering and Victory
This moment, where Jesus cries out in Aramaic from the cross, directly quotes Psalm 22:1 - 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' - a prayer that begins in anguish but ends in trust and triumph.
In Jewish tradition, quoting the first line of a psalm invoked the whole passage. Jesus expressed pain and called to mind all of Psalm 22, which describes suffering in vivid detail and declares, 'All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; all the families of the nations shall worship before you' (Psalm 22:27). This wasn't a cry of defeat but a faithful appeal rooted in Scripture. By using these words, Jesus was showing that his suffering was part of God’s plan all along.
The original language matters: 'Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?' is Aramaic, the everyday language of Jesus’ people, making this deeply personal and accessible. The word 'sabachthani' comes from a root meaning 'to leave' or 'to abandon,' and in this context, it reflects the crushing weight of sin that Jesus bore - something no one else could carry. Theologically, this moment is central to the idea of atonement: Jesus, the sinless one, took on the brokenness of humanity so that we could be made right with God. In that darkness, he endured spiritual separation so we wouldn’t have to.
Other Gospels record this cry too - Matthew 27:46 includes it nearly word for word - but Mark’s version feels raw and immediate, emphasizing the emotional and spiritual weight without additional commentary. This moment also fulfills the paradox of divine identity: the Son of God, mocked as powerless, is actually accomplishing the most powerful act in history.
Even in the cry of abandonment, Jesus was declaring hope by quoting Scripture.
This cry bridges suffering and salvation, and it leads directly into the next moment - Jesus’ final breath and the tearing of the temple curtain - showing that from the depths of abandonment, God was making a way for everyone to come near.
How Jesus' Cry Teaches Us to Pray Honestly and Trust God's Promise
Jesus’ cry from the cross, drawn from Psalm 22:1, shows us that honest lament is not the opposite of faith but a vital part of it.
When we feel abandoned or overwhelmed, we can bring those feelings to God instead of hiding them, mirroring Jesus who quoted a psalm that begins with despair but ends in worship. Psalm 22 moves from 'Why have you forsaken me?' to 'All the ends of the earth will turn to the Lord' (Psalm 22:27), showing that God hears our cries and turns pain into purpose.
Even when God feels far away, we can bring our deepest pain to Him - just as Jesus did.
This moment fits Mark’s theme of the suffering Messiah - Jesus doesn’t save others by coming down from the cross, but by staying on it, trusting God even in darkness, and opening the way for all who hurt to find hope in Him.
Jesus' Cry and the Bigger Story: Fulfillment in Suffering and Sonship
This moment on the cross, where Jesus quotes Bible/psalms/22">Psalm 22, is not isolated but deeply woven into the Bible’s larger story of suffering, faithfulness, and God’s ultimate rescue.
Psalm 22 foretold the anguish of one righteous man abandoned and mocked - yet trusting God - and Jesus fulfills it exactly, showing that his death was part of God’s plan all along. Hebrews 5:7-10 adds that 'during the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience through what he suffered, and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.'
Jesus’ cry wasn’t the end of the story - it was the turning point where suffering met salvation.
In Matthew’s Gospel, the same cry is recorded, and right after, the temple curtain tears - showing that through this suffering, the way to God is now open for everyone.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
Imagine feeling completely alone - like no one understands, like even God is silent. That’s the kind of pain many carry every day, whether from guilt, grief, or a sense of being forgotten. But Jesus’ cry on the cross tells us something powerful: God knows that pain from the inside. He didn’t stay distant. He entered it. When Jesus said, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' he wasn’t giving up - he was carrying our brokenness so we wouldn’t have to face it alone. Because of that moment, we can bring our darkest hours to God, not pretending we’re okay, but trusting that he hears us and is working even when he feels far away.
Personal Reflection
- When was the last time I brought my honest pain to God instead of hiding it behind a mask of faith?
- How does knowing Jesus felt abandoned change the way I view my own moments of loneliness or doubt?
- In what area of my life do I need to trust God’s presence, even when I don’t feel it?
A Challenge For You
This week, when you feel overwhelmed or distant from God, don’t push those feelings away. Open Psalm 22 and pray it aloud - starting with 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' - and let it guide you from pain to praise. Also, share your honest struggle with one trusted person, mirroring how Jesus voiced his pain openly.
A Prayer of Response
Jesus, thank you for crying out when you felt abandoned, so I never have to face loneliness alone. Help me trust that even in my darkest moments, you are with me. Teach me to bring my real feelings to you, not merely my polished prayers. And remind me that from your pain came my peace. Amen.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Mark 15:33
The darkness over the land sets a solemn backdrop, heightening the spiritual weight of Jesus' cry of abandonment.
Mark 15:35
The bystanders misunderstand Jesus' cry, thinking he calls for Elijah, revealing their spiritual blindness.
Mark 15:37
Jesus' final cry and death immediately follow, showing that abandonment leads to victory through sacrifice.
Connections Across Scripture
Psalm 22:1
Jesus quotes this verse, invoking a psalm of suffering that ultimately declares God's faithfulness and global worship.
Isaiah 53:4
Foretells the Messiah would bear our griefs and carry our sorrows - fulfilled in Jesus' crucifixion pain.
2 Corinthians 5:21
Explains the theology behind the cry: Jesus became sin for us so we could be made righteous.